NEW LICENSE REQUIRED FOR SMALL DEALERS

Ohio House Bill 1 (the Budget Bill) which passed in July of 2009 established a new category of "livestock dealer". If you buy or sell any livestock (defined as horses, mules, and other equidae, cattle, sheep, and goats and other bovidae, swine and other suidae, poultry, alpacas, and llamas), you are now required to have a "small dealer license" unless you are exempt. Those people who are exempt are:

(1)	Any railroad or other carrier transporting animals either interstate or intrastate;
(2)	Any person who by dispersal sale is permanently discontinuing the business of farming, dairying, breeding, raising, or feeding animals;
(3)	Any person who sells livestock that has been raised from birth on the premises of the person;
(4)	Any person who buys or receives animals for grazing or feeding purposes at a premises owned or controlled by the person and sells or disposes of the animals after the minimum grazing or feeding period of thirty days;
(5)	Any person who places livestock in facilities other than the person’s own pursuant to a written agreement for feeding or finishing, provided that the person retains legal and equitable title to the livestock during the term of the agreement.
Basically what this means is, if you're selling your own stock that you've raised from birth, you don't need a license; but if you're buying or selling livestock and reselling it, you do need the license.

This is a change from the previous law concerning livestock dealers.

Up until now, you could sell up to 250 head of cattle or horses and up to 500 head of sheep, goats, hogs, poultry, alpacas or llamas without a license. That is no longer the case. The new Small Dealer License pertains
if you sell less than that number; so if you sell even one head of livestock that was purchased, you need the license. Note, however, that if you keep the animal(s) for more than 30 days, you are exempt. And of course these regulations only apply to livestock animals, which are horses, mules, and other equidae, cattle, sheep, and goats and other bovidae, swine and other suidae, poultry, alpacas, and llamas. Important: Do not neglect to get this license if you buy and resell livestock. The penalty for violations is a first degree misdemeanor, which can mean up to a $1,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail.

The new regulations are in effect now; the license costs $25, and applications are due by March 31 and must be renewed annually.
Here is a link to the Small Dealer License application form: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/public_docs/forms/ADDL/Anim_3100-014.pdf

Polly Britton, Legislative Agent